Founder and leader of the New Force Nana Kwame Bediako, alias Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar, has doubled down on his views on the Democracy Hub protests which ended in the arrest and arraignment of some demonstrators.

In a viral video on social media, Cheddar, sitting in his chauffeur-driven SUV, decried violent protests.

He also strongly argued the Oliver Baker-Vormawor-convened Democracy Hub protests were instigated by one of the parties enjoying the duopoly in Ghana – a duopoly he seeks to upset.

Regarding “my last video about not supporting violence, I still stand on that and I mean that,” the independent presidential candidate said.

“Why I don’t support the youth protesting is because I want peace in the country,” he noted.

“If the youth and people of this nation have held it down for 32 to 40 years of understanding politics, and whatever encumbrances, crisis and issues that it brings, and they’ve managed to survive, then why would they want to use violence now to send a message and say that they’ve had enough?” Cheddar asked.   

“Let me tell you people something that you might not know. All of these protests and demonstrations that have happened in this country in the past year or two, were organised by one of the duopoly,” he declared.

The New Force leader stressed: “It’s the same politicians. I’ve said. I’m not going to mention names, but you know Julorbi and Fix the Country [protests] were fixed by one of the existing [major] parties.”

“We cannot do this to ourselves because of a politician personal interests or a party’s interests.

“Please, Ghana, do your research. The people in front of all these demonstrations, some of them have treason charges. Ask, find out, who sponsored them for the mobilisations, and all the things that happened.

Cheddar asked citizens and the electorate to “do your research,” and recognised Democracy Hub’s 2023 and 2024 protests “is not about galamsey” but “this is about a political interest”.

Both times Democracy Hub has organised protests, demonstrators have clashed with personnel of the Ghana Police Service leading to arrests. 

Their 2024 three-day protest last weekend has resulted in the arrest, arraignment and remand of 39 persons on charges of various forms of lawlessness, according to police. 

Read: 39 Democracy Hub protesters arraigned, remanded

Meanwhile, social media has taken notice of a 2023 video in which Cheddar, acknowledging the Democracy Hub protest of 2023, remarked "It's very encouraging. I'm extremely proud of the new Ghana for demonstrating courage. You have my support and I stand with you Ghana."

As Ghana goes to the polls on December 7, the New Force is at the 12 position on the ballot paper.